The 'Scow' and the 'Pram':



Smaller classes consisted first of the delightfully diminutive but utterly seaworthy 11 ft. 6 in. 'Lymington Scow' (also a Berthon Boat product), but since these little craft were essentially single-handed jobs the demand for something larger was met by Dan Bran, the local boat-builder, whose shed was situated close to the Yacht Club. Dan's prices were very reasonable, though his design, which was simply a blown-up version of the Scow and was called 'the Lymington Pram', was sadly lacking in performance in high winds which caused the boats to heel to such an extent that the rudders were lifted so far out of the water as to make their accurate steering a doubtful proposition. Nevertheless, the 14ft. Pram Class filled a long-felt want and in the fullness of time became an even 'hotter' collection of pot-hunters than the larger boats.